intuitive math is often a joy to the eye, and thus one of the most lovely pedagogical functions of hula hooping is its teaching of many intuitive matters pertaining to math and its real world applications.

eliptical rotations

harmonics between varying sized bodies and hoops of different circumferences, tubular widths, and weight.

gravity, inertia, and bodies in motion

centrifical force 

etc

the way a child grows and learns to grapple with math/physics ideas, sometimes using pencil and paper, sometimes just by seeing and feeling, is given intuitive legitimacy with the hula hoop practice.